We celebrated the 9th day of Ridvan in the home of Azar, who always features ethnic Persian food.
As the friends gathered around, we had a chance to meet old friends we have seen over the past year in the children's classes, study circles, and devotional programs.
Here is another blogsite, of Marthateresa, who also shares images of her celebration. I look at her joyous photos and realize that, for her, such a celebration is not taken for granted. She writes:
April 26 - For whom the siren wails
Its easy to forget that i live in a war zone. Then again, after 60 years or non-stop war i wonder when it just becomes normal. The other day was Memorial Day. At home, we would have some fireworks, maybe a BBQ with friends, honor people who had served their country by living it up. Here, starting at sunset, everything shuts down. Arab, Jew, whoever, all take the time off to be with their families. The TV starts a scrolling list of names that takes 24 hours to get through. It's the list of the dead.
10 am the next morning, there is a 2 minute siren wail. Everyone freezes. I am not kidding. Interstates stop. Garbage trucks stop, everything stops. For two minutes no one in this country moves a muscle. That is how they honor the people they have lost in the struggle--One that has no end in sight. Life is fleeting here. Bombs explode without warning and children are sent into combat daily. To me, 2 minutes doesn't seem like enough time for reflection.
A Ridvan slide show and information about the Ridvan Celebration is also found here, at New York Baha'i community.
